| For many of us, when our dogs are sick, it is | | | | suspect injured bones, first call your |
| often quite difficult to know whether or not | | | | regular vet to see if you can get an |
| dogs illnesses warrant a trip to the | | | | appointment quickly. If not, take your dog to |
| emergency room for a dog illness diagnosis. | | | | the emergency clinic. They will need to take |
| | | | x-rays to determine whether or not bones have |
| In an emergency, the first thing you should | | | | been quickly. |
| know is where to take your dog. Many | | | | |
| veterinarians offer 24 hour emergency | | | | Hard To Breathe |
| service. Please make sure to ask your vet if | | | | |
| this is a service offered by their office. If | | | | If your dog is having breathing problems, |
| your vet does not offer this service, know | | | | take him to the closest emergency clinic |
| where your local veterinary emergency clinic | | | | immediately. There are many reasons why your |
| is located. | | | | dog might be having breathing problems and |
| | | | many of them are critical. |
| So how do you know if you are having an | | | | |
| emergency? Most veterinarians will tell you | | | | Auto Accidents |
| that if the owner feels the dogs illnesses | | | | |
| are urgent to please call the nearest | | | | If your dog is hit by a automobile, it is |
| emergency clinic and speak to a veterinary | | | | important to take him to the closest |
| staff member. They will evaluate the | | | | emergency office immediately. Even if he is |
| situation and in most cases, have you bring | | | | acting normal, he may have internal injuries |
| your dog in to be examined. The following are | | | | that need to be taken care of urgently. Wrap |
| some common emergency situations and ideas | | | | your dog in a blanket to help prevent shock, |
| for how to handle them. | | | | and keep away from his mouth, as many dogs |
| | | | that are in distress will bite (even if they |
| Symptoms of Pain in the Abdomin | | | | never have before). |
| | | | |
| If your dog is showing symptoms of abdominal | | | | Continuous Convulsions |
| pain, such as tenderness to the touch, | | | | |
| standing with his back arched, or refusing | | | | If your dog has a minor seizure or two, it is |
| food, you should take him to the closest | | | | a serious problem and you should call your |
| emergency clinic immediately for a dog | | | | veterinarian at once. However, if your dog |
| illness diagnosis. Other signs of abdominal | | | | has a series of seizures that last for more |
| pain can include vomiting, crying, shaking | | | | than a few minutes, you should place a |
| and difficulty breathing. These may be signs | | | | blanket over your dog, keep away from his |
| of Gastric Torsion. This state can come on | | | | mouth and get him to the nearest emergency |
| suddenly and in most cases affects large, | | | | clinic immediately. There are several reasons |
| deep chested dogs, but any dog can be | | | | why your dog could be having convulsions, |
| affected. This condition must be treated as | | | | including epilepsy, metabolic problems, brain |
| soon as possible. There are other conditions | | | | tumors, and poisoning. Fits of seizures are |
| associated with abdominal pain such as | | | | considered to be life threatening in many |
| constipation, kidney or liver disease, or | | | | cases. |
| even a common stomach ache, but it is | | | | |
| imperative to have tests done to rule out any | | | | For any dogs illnesses, if the you feel that |
| other serious problems. | | | | your dog should be seen by a veterinarian, |
| | | | call his office to see how soon you can get |
| Bleeding Wounds | | | | in for a dog illness diagnosis. Many |
| | | | veterinarians have assistants available to |
| If your dog gets a cut, you should apply | | | | assess the dogs health problem situation and |
| direct pressure with a clean dry bandage to | | | | answer questions to help you determine the |
| the gash. The bleeding should stop within ten | | | | seriousness of your dogs condition. If your |
| minutes, after which time, you should make an | | | | regular veterinarian is not available, or if |
| appointment to see your vet as soon as | | | | you feel that it is an emergency, the best |
| possible. The vet can only give your dog | | | | thing to do, if at all possible, is to call |
| stitches within a small period of time. | | | | the emergency office, tell them what is going |
| However, if the bleeding does not cease | | | | on, and that you are on the way. This helps |
| within twenty minutes or the bleeding is from | | | | the staff prepare for your situation in |
| the chest, you should take your dog to the | | | | advance so the veterinary team is ready to |
| emergency clinic immediately. | | | | work on your dog when you get there. If you |
| | | | have further questions on what kinds of |
| Broken Bones Need X-Rays | | | | symptoms are emergency situations, please ask |
| | | | your veterinarian. |
| If your dog has been in an accident where you | | | | |